Victorians dig deep for 93rd Good Friday Appeal

The Good Friday Appeal has come to a close for 2024, with a record-breaking $23,368,724 raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Recap the day here.

Victorians have given generously to help the Good Friday Appeal raise a record-breaking $23,368,724.

Victorians have once again opened their hearts and wallets, contributing a record-breaking $23,368,724 to the annual Good Friday Appeal.

From battlers to the top end of town, tens of thousands of kind hearted people dug deep to raise vital funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The tally sat at a remarkable $19,108,507 as of 10pm, but was continuing to rise steadily by the half hour.

Good Friday Appeal chairman Penny Fowler, who is also chair of the Herald and Weekly Times, said every dollar raised made a huge difference to helping sick children.

“It’s all about giving what you can today. Every dollar makes a difference. We value every dollar,” she said.

“Obviously there’s a cost of living crisis at the moment. While it is hard for everybody, I do think people do come out on this day to support such a wonderful cause and our sick children.”

The state government kicked off this year’s fundraising drive with a $1m donation on behalf of taxpayers.

Premier Jacinta Allan, who this week reunited with the surgeon who saved her daughter’s life at the Royal Children’s Hospital, said she was thrilled to make the donation.

“It is, for me personally, special to make this announcement,” she said.

“This contribution that we’re making is our way of saying thank you.”

Ms Allan spent “many months” at the hospital after her daughter was born with a condition known as exomphalos, which resulted in her spending the first 11 months of her life in the intensive care unit.

Royal Children’s Hospital patient Ollie, 4, leads the Blues off Marvel Stadium after their win over the Kangaroos. Picture: Michael Klein

The Easter Bunny and nursing staff on the Koala Ward. Picture: David Caird

“You talk to any parent who’s had a child at the Royal Children’s Hospital for a day or for many days, many weeks and many months, each of us come away from that experience having such amazing regard and respect for the world-class health professionals in the hospital,” she said.

Beginning in 1931, the Good Friday Appeal has become an annual Easter tradition in Victoria, raising more than $444 million over the past 93 years.

Last year, the Good Friday Appeal raised a record-breaking $23,061,320 for the hospital, including almost $4.6m from regional Victoria.

But in the first stage of the appeal’s expansion, this year $2.5m from the tally will be shared among six regional health services.

Barwon Health, Bendigo Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Grampians Health, Latrobe Regional Health and Albury-Wodonga Health will all enjoy a welcome funding boost to deliver their own vital services.

Mia Depuit, 6, with RCH nurses Nic Lebrasse and Sharnaya Bevis. Picture: David Caird

Lyla Mulraney thanks all those who donated to the Good Friday Appeal. Picture: David Caird

Ms Fowler said it will be a great outcome if regional families are able to get the same world class care offered by the Children’s Hospital closer to home.

“It’s a real game changer. We’re really excited about that,” she said.

Thousands turned out to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to enjoy the Kids Day Out festival, now in its tenth year.

Excited kids visited the popular Teddy Bear Hospital, posed up with their favourite superheroes and emergency service workers, enjoyed carnival rides and even had a go at taking part in the sporting zone.

Ms Fowler said the festival, now a key staple of the Good Friday Appeal tradition, offered an opportunity for families to enjoy a day of free fun.

“It’s grown organically and more and more people come,” she said.

“It’s all about coming together as a community to celebrate and raise money for the hospital.”

Cancer patient Ada Cen, 4, lives her dream of being a ballet dancer alongside the Australian Ballet School performers. Picture: David Caird

Mavis Perry, 7, gets into the Easter spirit with her bunny ears. Picture: David Caird

South Warrandyte CFA members Suzie Smith, Grant Blashki, Lou Naus and Annabelle Forsyth collecting on Good Friday. Picture: Ian Currie

Aria and Maggie Thiele at the Kids Day Out. Picture: David Smith

Premier Jacinta Allan and GFA Chairman Penny Fowler with Finley Every, 2. Picture: David Caird

Premier Jacinta Allan with RCH CEO Bernadette McDonald and GFA Chairman Penny Fowler. Picture: David Caird

Raaya Khan, 7, with Cosplay princesses Elsa and Anna. Picture: David Caird

In the early part of the day the sound of laughter echoed down the hallways of the Royal Children’s Hospital, as the community came together to show its love and support for our state’s littlest fighters.

The hospital’s main street popped with colour as performers, characters and celebrities gathered to kick off the day of fundraising and fun.

Patients ventured down from their wards and broke into smiles as they were greeted by a buzz of activity, from the friendly border force dogs weaving through the crowd, to a giant koala in a CFA uniform.

The phones in the tally room rang and rang, and each hour, without fail, Victorians continued to dig deep and push the donations up.

In the hospital — where some children have endured trials tougher than many adults ever have — joy spread from room to room.

Patients sang and danced on Main St, as MDX Performing Art School put on a show, belting out pop hits from Taylor Swift to Rihianna.

At the back of a crowd there was another show going on, and characters — including Toothless from How to Train your Dragon, Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, and Dora the Explorer —could be seen dancing between photos with delighted kids.